12 members and visiting Rotarian Mark Eujavel of Kyiv International Club, Kiev, Ukraine heard (in lieu of weather-and-traffic-challenged scheduled speaker Dr. Erik Reis), President Josh Lund give an abbreviated account of the January 19 Hearts & Suits Gala which he organized as a fundraiser for Polio Plus. The event was enjoyed by 160 attendees and raised a net of $1500.00.

Visiting Rotarian Eujavel explained that he is a Minnesotan with connections to a multinational corporation operating in the Ukraine. He dropped in from his Fridley office.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Greg Schraufnagel, Golf Classic chair, distributed copies of the first draft of the brochure for this year's event for comments and edits.

REMINDERS:

The nonprofit Compassion Action Network will sponsor a presentation by United Healthcare Senior Program Manager for Social responsibility Jaime McKenzie at the Fridley Civic Campus from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 7.

The club will donate funding for the Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts Student Art Exhibition, February 9 – March 9. The Center also seeks volunteers. Contact Director Jeff Ebeling at jeffrey@banfill-locke.org.

The Fridley Lions' “Winter Warm-up” will be held on Friday, February 22, from 6 to 9 pm at Banquets of Minnesota in Fridley. Scott Lund has tickets for sale at the breakfast meetings.

The Lee Carlson Center Chili Cookoff will take place on March 1 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Brooklyn Center, reflecting LCC's expansion to that Hennepin County community.

The final STRIVE field trip of the year will take place on March 7, from 9:00 - 2:00 p.m. Contact Steve at 612-599-8103 if you can accompany the students.

The "Taste of Fridley" a fundraiser for the spring Fridley Middle School East Coast trip, will be held on Friday, March 8, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Banquets of MN in Fridley.

The Alexandra House Hope Gala will take place on Saturday, March 30. The club has purchased a table for 6. Contact club Secretary Bob Tholkes at 763-913-4453 if interested in attending at the club’s table.

The 2019 District Conference of Clubs is scheduled for April 11-12 at Mayo Civic Center in Rochester. Details and registration information are at https://rotary5960.org/sitepage/2019-conference-of-clubs.

The Allina/Bikes for Kids bike giveaway will take place on April 13 at Stevenson Elementary School in Fridley.

The club needs a Youth Exchange Officer for 2019-20. Please contact President-Elect Brian Weierke if interested.

Donations are sought for the Metro North Adult Basic Ed winter clothing distribution program in our service area. They will be accepted all through the winter. They can be brought to the breakfast and given to Kristen Stuenkel.